Tamaqua man gets more prison time for scrap metal theft

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

By AL DIETZ tneditor@tnonline.com

A Tamaqua man, currently serving time in a state prison, pleaded guilty through a video conference transmission and receiving additional time to serve. He enterd the plea on charges Tuesday in Schuylkill County court. Several others were also sentenced on criminal charges.

Russell Jacob Nelson, 30, of 103 N. Lehigh St., Tamaqua, was seated in a video room at the Forest State Correctional Institution, Center County, near Penn State University, while Judge John E. Domalakes sat in a video room at the courthouse in Pottsville.

Nelson pleaded guilty to theft of scrap metal from property of Bell Corporation located a mile south of Catawissa Road in Schuylkill Township on March 18, 2009, and selling it at an area scrap yard. He also pleaded guilty to theft of a vehicle belonging to Elizabeth Zaprazny, 2401 Suimmer Valley Road, New Ringgold.

Domalakes sentenced him to serve nine to 24 months consecutive to the sentence he is now serving on a theft charge. He received credit for serving 63 days for the present charge. He also must make restitution of $2,460 to Zaprazny.

Drug cases

Derek P. Kroll, 30, Pottsville, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a small amount of marijuana was sentenced by Domalakes to serve four to 12 months in a state correctional institution, pay $200 to Substance Abuse Education (SAE) fund. On a charge of defiant trespass on property of Pottsville Housing Authority to serve 15 to 30 days concurrent and on a charge of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver was fined $25 and costs. He was cited by Pottsville police last June 4.

Dante Lamar Key, 38, Reading, pleaded gulty to selling drugs in Pottsville and was sentenced by Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin to serve two to four years in a state correctional institution with credit for serving 239 days in the county prison. He also must pay $200 to SAE fund, $100 to Criminal Justice Enhancement Account (CJEA), make restitution of $300 to the Pottsville police and $226 to Bethlehem Regional Lab.

DUI cases

Timothy C. Ewer, Doylestown, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol in Tamaqua and Kline Township and was sentenced by President Judge William E. Baldwin to serve one to five years in a state correctional institution on each charge, total was two to 10 years, with credit for serving 171 days in the county prison. He also was ordered to pay fines totaling $3,000. On two charges of driving while his license was suspended he was fined $2,500 and costs.

Debra Ann Zerbey, 30, Port Carbon, pleaded guilty to DUI and was sentenced by Judge Jacqueline Russell to serve 90 days to five years in a state correctional institution, pay a fine of $1,500, pay $300 to SAE fund, $50 to Catastrophe fund, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, perform 20 hours of community service and her driver's license is suspended 18 months. On two summary charges, failing to drive on roadway laned for traffic and restrictions on carrying in her vehicle open container of alcohol, fined $50 plus costs. Zerbey was cited by Trooper Robert Kluge last Jan. 15 on Mill Creek Avenue in Norwegian Township.

Carlene Lynne Halcovich, 49, Mount Carmel, pleaded guilty to a DUI charge. She was placed on probation by Judge Charles M. Miller for six months, pay a fine of $300, pay $50 to CJEA, $100 to SAE fund, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, complete highway safety school and receive outpatient substance abuse counseling and driver's license suspended 12 months. On a summary charge of a driver to have a license and improper driving on divided highway was fined $50 plus costs. Halcovich was cited by Deputy Sheriff Scott Taylor working with police at a checkpoint on SR924 in West Mahanoy Township.

Michelle Marie Miller, 38, Shenandoah, pleaded guilty to a DUI charge and was placed by Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin in the Intermediate Punishment Program (IPP) and sentenced to serve 60 months on probation with the first 12 months on house arrest with electronic surveillance, pay a fine of $1,500, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to Catastrophe fund, attend safety school and receive intensive outpatient counseling. On a charge of retail theft from Walmart Store in Saint Clair was placed on probation for 24 months to run concurrent and on a second DUI charge was placed in the IPP for six months to run concurrent.

Each defendant must pay court costs and a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.